Govt criticised over court closure

The Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement has criticised the South Australian Government over the closure of the Ceduna Court, saying more Indigenous people will be held in custody for longer periods.

Courthouses in Naracoorte, Kadina, Coober Pedy and Ceduna will be closed on days when the courts are not sitting, with staff being brought in on sitting days.

The chief executive of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, Neil Gillespie, says a trial of the Nunga Aboriginal Court in Ceduna has been successful, but ultimately it may be futile.

"After a long time, and I'm talking years, we were able to attract a senior lawyer to go and work in Ceduna and as soon as that person started, we find that this penny pinching State Government is now closing the Ceduna Court to the detriment of Aboriginal people over there," he said.